Authorities said a Little Rock officer was "relieved of duty" last month after he pointed a BB gun at a man while on duty.
According to a police report, officer Evan Howell, 26, was responding to a call about a man with a BB gun harassing employees in a T Mobile store June 16 when Howell aimed the BB gun at the suspect.
Authorities said the suspect misunderstood the seriousness of carrying a BB gun, so Howell grabbed the weapon, pointed it toward him and said, "Hey, can you tell the difference right now?"
The other officers then escorted Howell from the building, the report states. The suspect told officers he "was not certain if Mr. Howell had his BB gun or not" and that he "just saw Mr. Howell charging at him with a gun pointed at him."
Little Rock police spokesman Lt. Michael Ford said Howell was suspended with pay pending an internal investigation almost immediately after the incident. The suspension means Howell's gun and badge were taken and that he cannot work in any capacity with the Police Department for the duration of the suspension.